May 3rd 2005TUESDAY Hope, age 7, dancing in Australia. Watch out (!), we just found out that she is coming to California in August.

"I wanna be a dancer when I grow up!"

----Rusty Frank, now...

LIFE IS GREAT! SWING IS HERE TO STAY

This past Sunday was the beginning of a brand new series, and once again, it was PACKED! We had 40 people in Level 1, 30 people in Level 2, and about 20 in Level 3. What a great turnout. And something very exciting happened that hasn't happened in years, we had four kids, 8-12. We have noticed that there is a trend in the younger set that "swing is cool!", and now even the little guys are taking note. We had two entire families out there in class! ("The family that dances together, stays together!").

Thanks again to all of you for spreading the word. It really is because of your enthusiasm that this great dance is staying alive. When you dance, or talk about dancing, or practice your triple steps as you walk your dogs, people see the joy on your face and wanna join in on the fun. Well done!

I keep a record of how people found out about our classes, and by far the overwhelming way was by "friend" -- that's YOU. Thank you for keeping swing dancing going strong!

WELCOME TO OUR NEW SUNDAY DANCERS!

So, welcome to all our new Sunday dancers - it's GREAT to have you along. We can't wait to dance with you at our weekly dance at The Rhythm Club (why not come this Wednesday!). Remember, don't be shy... ask us to dance -- we'd love to dance with you.

NORWAY SAYS HELLO, CLICK ON THE LINK

Last week I had this little link in the email, but I think I "buried" it in text and you didn't get a chance to see/hear it. While I was in Norway last month, I took a 10 second movie of the tap dancers saying hello to you in English and then Norwegian. Take a look:

RHYTHM CLUB OPEN THIS WEEK
CHESTER WHITMORE'S OPUS ONE BIG BAND!

Rusty and Chester Whitmore

Last week was great at the Rhythm Club, with one of very favorite bands, Mora's Modern Swingtet. There were over a hundred dancers shaking a leg on our dance floor.

This week (tomorrow nite), Chester Whitmore and his Opus One Big Band debuts at the Rhythm Club. Normally we have dj music (with our fabulous Professor) on the first Wednesday of each month, but Chester's schedule is so hectic, this was the only Wednesday we could get him! So we got him! Make sure to mark this in your calendar -- that's THIS Wednesday, May 4th. There's more below in the Rhythm Club section about Chester and his band.

HEY, LET'S PUT ON A SHOW!

Chester and his gang are also going to be putting on a surprise revue for our pleasure. It will include dancing, comedy, and our very own Maxwell DeMille as Master of Ceremonies, and ME on taps with Chester. A nite not to be missed. Spred the word!

One little note, remember that we still have our temporary floor, so if you are particular about shoes-floor, bring a couple different kinds of shoes to test which one will work best. And again, thank you for your support and patience during these final weeks before our brand new floor is revealed.

SUNDAY SERIES
NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN!

If you or a friend had to miss week 1 of our current series, it is NOT too late join. Come along this coming Sunday! Remember, we review everything taught the first week at this second week of classes.

MONDAY AND TUESDAY PEOPLE
**WE ARE ADDING A FIFTH WEEK TO THIS SERIES**

Our "Secret Agent Man" routine is coming along GREAT! We are having such fun, it's not to be believed. We are about 1/3rd done with the number, and working hard. You should all be proud of yourselves, it's looking great, and your hard work is paying off.

Ron and I have decided to add one more week in this series that is optional to you. We felt that it would be an excellent idea for those in the "Secret Agent Man" class, and for those in the Track, you would get a "review" week. This will also keep us with the Sunday classes who will be taking one week off for Memorial Weekend (NOTE: We will NOT (again NOT) be taking a week off). So mark it in your calendars to add one more week to this series. The price for this additional week will be $10 a class and $5 for each additional class on the same nite; and for Golden Ticket people $6 plus $3 for each additional class on same day. Remember, this is optional for you.

Yes, it's that time again, "The First Wednesday of the Month" when we have our Beginner Swing Dance Class at the Rhythm Club. We offer this super easy class for those who just want to check out the scene. Maybe they're not sure enough about swing dancing to sign up for a full 4-week Lindy By The Sea course yet... This class is just meant to give them a "taste" of the dance and the people, the environment, so to speak. Let all your co-workers, friends, relatives, and others (?) know about it.

CHESTER WHITMORE'S OPUS ONE BIG BAND
TO DEBUT AT RUSTY'S RHYTHM CLUB ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 4TH!

with special guest
MASTER OF CEREMONIES MAXWELL DEMILLE
RUSTY FRANK ON TAPS!

That's right, we finally got Chester and his swing orchestra, Opus One, for the Rhythm Club. Unbeknownst to all of you, this has been in the works for over a year. But because of Chester's busy performing and producing schedule throughout the world, we weren't able, till now, to get him.

Many of you have already seen this fantastic big band (complete with SHOW!) perform in the past at Maxwell's At The Argyle and currently at Chester's Friday nite venue, "Swingin' In The Hood", so you already know you are in for an exciting night on and off the dancefloor. Here's a nice piece that really gives you the feel:

THE OPUS ONE BIG BAND, led by Chester Whitmore, is an 18-piece orchestra recreating the hot Big Band and jazz sounds from the 1920s to the 1940s. Their material includes many popular tunes from the Cotton Club and the Savoy Ballroom, with musical sources such as Duke Ellington, Jimmy Lunceford, Count Basie, Chick Webb and Cab Calloway.

Like their idols from the old swing era, this is not a sedate, nice dinner crowd Big Band. Opus One does not make appearances dripping with sentimental grease and political correctness --Opus One is unleashed! Known for a usually, shall we say -- flamboyant, stage show, these musicians will play wild solos, compete for your attention, prance around on stage, parade on the dance floor. Don't miss them!

WE'RE GETTING A NEW FLOOR AT THE RHYTHM CLUB!

That's right! Only a year an a half since the water damage incident at the Elk's Lodge, we are going to be getting a brand new dance floor. Can you imagine what this means?! A dance floor just for use. Perfect for dancing. It's going to be completely supervised and put in by our very own Michael D'Angelo. He's the best. And we're the luckiest.

However, it does mean that we're going to be dark one more week on May 18th. But the end result will be worth it. Stay tuned for further announcements and more good news. Here's the schedule:

May 4th Open at Elks Lodge (dancing on temp floor)

May 11th Open at Elks Lodge (dancing on temp floor)

May 18th Closed (finish put on our new floor!)

May 25th Grand Re-Opening at Elks Lodge!!!!

MAY 4

MAY 11

MAY 18

CLOSED FOR NEW DANCE FLOOR INSTALLATION

ZERO

MAY 25

GRAND RE-OPENING OF NEW FLOOR!

Dance Lesson and DJ on the first
Wednesday of each month from 7:30-8:00
8:00-11:30pm -- Dance! Dance! Dance!
(check our calendar)

If you missed your birthday on any of our "closed" nights, please feel free to collect this week!

If it's your birthday this week, just let us know at the Rhythm Club so you can get your birthday dance!

Here's some information about an upcoming event with our "Swing Shift Rhythm Club". We hope you will consider joining this wonderful yahoogroup made up of US for the purpose of doing good deeds in the community through swing dancing and just having plain ol' fun! Go to the bottom of this newsletter for information on joining

According to Activity Coordinator, Shirley, "Most of our residents
are vent or trach. Some are very responsive and enjoy live
entertainment. For others, the dance and music would provide a
wonderful sensory stimuli."

Not only do we need 4-6 couples to dance, we also need "hold hands"
with residents, a narrator, DJ, (digital) photographer, all that
stuff. As well as the usual display of Lindy and West Coast, we hope
for a sample of Ballroom or Latin, as well as a tap number from a
local tap student.

Hope to hear from you soon. You can talk to me at classes, at the Rhythm Club, or via my email below.

NEW AD IN THE EASY READER

Some of you may have noticed our new ad in The Easy Reader. In case you haven't seen it, here it is:

SUCH A NICE COMPLIMENT FROM SWINGDANCESHOP
FOR RUSTY'S DVDS

Judy pictured with Frankie Manning at Swing Camp Catalina

Our good friend, Judy Pritchett, who runs one of the best swing dance sites on the planet (and our Link of the Week), gave Rusty quite an accolade this week:

TAP INSTRUCTION DVDs

Rusty Frank has outdone herself producing two new tap DVDs that provide instruction, entertainment, art and uplift. One is her homage to the late Leonard Reed and presents his "Revenge of the Shim Sham", material he choreographed in his very active nineties. The other has Sam Weber teaching Eddie Brown's BS Chorus and is a sheer delight. It includes some wonderful footage of the late Eddie Brown. Hats off to the multi-talented Rusty Frank!

Judy Pritchett
SwingDanceShop

RUSTYFRANK.COM

Thanks to a new student recommendation, I now have my own "domain" -- "RustyFrank.com". For those of you who have trouble remember the complete name "SwingShiftOnTap.com"... here's something much easier, AND it brings you right to our site! Thanks to the entrepid Stanley Sheff, aka Maxwell DeMille, for making all this possible -- webhost extraordinaire.

BOWLING SHIRT UPDATE

The remaining bowling shirts will be in some time this week. If you have been waiting for yours, I'll be bringing them to club and classes for the next few weeks. If you are unable to get it at these locations, call me so we can arrange something: 310 606 5606.

The response was so great, we will probably do another order soon.

Rusty tap dancing in Norway

SWINGDANCESHOP.COM: This is one of our all-time favorite sites for swing dancing, and we don't mind repeating this link every now and then. Run by good friend and lindy hopper Judy Pritchett, this site has everything a swing dancers would want and need, from shoes to clothes, from music to dvds, and more. Take a look around this site, and you'll wish you had a million dollars. Dang!

* Wondering
what the heck a "gate"is? This was a phrase popularized by 1940's comedian,
Jerry Colonna, who would holler it out every time he was introduced on the
Bob Hope radio program. It was a friendly salutation to a swing cat (dancer
or swing music enthusiast).

JOIN THE FUN!
BUT, WHAT THE HECK IS IT?

Many of you still don't know about our Swing Shift Rhythm Club. It's one of our best kept secrets. Now is the time to get the SSRC "above the radar."

THE SWING SHIFT RHYTHM CLUB (SSRC), founded in 2000 by Rusty Frank's swing dance students, The SSRC has two missions:

1. Having fun! (Fun)
2. Doing good deeds! (Philanthropy)

1. Having fun: Events where swing dancers can socialize and get to know each other outside of class (vintage clothes shopping, going to a dance-related movie, dancing in the park, eating at retro restaurants before a dance, etc.).

2. Doing good deeds: Events where we bring swing dancing to hospitals, senior homes, and community events for the purpose of good deeds, entertainment, and education in the Los Angeles area.

The SSRC is a volunteer club open to the public and the events are organized by its members. There are no dues. Members can attend as many or as few events as they wish.

"How do I join?"...
Right now, fill in your email address
and click the Yahoo log (that's it!):

Subscribe to SwingShiftRhythmClub

Then you will receive updates of activities (or you can organize one yourself!). Check the yahoogroup "Swing Shift Rhythm Club" calendar here for postings of upcoming events.